Yet Another Alphabet Quiz

Subject: "Ellan Vannin" aka "Ellen Vannen" & "Ellen Vannin"
From: SharonA
Date: 11 Jul 02 - 02:02 PM

Right you are, Wolfgang! Thanks for that heads-up. Okay, here's a link to the lyrics with the correct year-date: http://www.acronet.net/~robokopp/shanty/elenvann.htm

But wait... there's more! The lyrics at www.molwert.de have the first line as "Snaefell, Tyndwall and Benmachree" and the captain's name as Tier. The lyrics at www.acronet.net say "Snaefell Tynwald, Ben-my-Chree" and spell the captain's name as Teare.

Then there's the first line of the sixth verse. Molwert.de has "Few Manxmen now remember", whereas Acronet.net has "You Manxmen now remember". Quite a difference in meaning! Is it safe to assume that Acronet's line is correct? (There are other, less glaring, discrepancies between the two versions as well.)

When was this song written? I can't find a date for it.

Subject: RE: BS: Yet Another Alphabet Quiz
From: Wolfgang
Date: 12 Jul 02 - 04:42 AM

We should have started an extra thread for that song, but...

The Loss of the Ellan Vannin (with pictures of the ship!) seems quite reliable to me.

The name of the captain on this site (and all other sites I have seen) is Teare. The spelling of the mountain is variable and depends on to which amount the Welsh name has been anglicised. From roughly knowing when the Spinners have been singing, the song should have been written in the 1960s (give or take a decade). Therefore, "few Manxmen.." makes more sense to me.

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: BS: Yet Another Alphabet Quiz
From: IanC
Date: 12 Jul 02 - 05:41 AM

Anyone fancy having a go at K?

Subject: RE: BS: Yet Another Alphabet Quiz
From: DMcG
Date: 12 Jul 02 - 05:45 AM

Is K still unanswered? JP Collier was the editor of the Roxborough Ballads (thanks Google!) and Kate Dalrymple is a tune from that area which for some reason I associate with the clue - I cannot explain why; I can certainly give no explanation for the lock. Anyone know any more?

Subject: RE: BS: Yet Another Alphabet Quiz
From: DMcG
Date: 12 Jul 02 - 05:54 AM

AH-HA!

.... "Kitt hath lost her key," f. 108, is another of Collier's forgeries ...

Subject: RE: BS: Yet Another Alphabet Quiz
From: IanC
Date: 12 Jul 02 - 07:39 AM

Thanks folks ... here's the whole list.

A - Adam and Eve
B - Bonny Bunch of Roses (Napoleon Bonaparte)
C - Charlie Chaplin
D - Dainty Davie
E - Ellen Vannin
F - Frankie and Johnny
G - George Gershwin
H - Harry Houdini
I - It's a Long Way to Tipperary
J - John Barleycorn
K - Kitt Hath Lost Her Key
L - Leezie Lindsay
M - Miss McLeod's Reel
N - Nine Times a Night
O - Oggy Man
P - Pretty Peggy O' Derby
Q - Queen Jane
R - Roger de Coverley
S - Spencer The Rover
T - Great Tom is cast
U - Underneath Her Apron
V - Vicar of Bray
W - Wife of Usher's Well
X - X Green Bottles
Y - Young Rambleaway
Z - (General) Zachary Taylor

BruceO posted a lot of stuff on J. P. Collier's forgeries a couple of years ago. Worth the read.

BTW I found Hughie Jones's address and phone number on the web yesterday (can't find it today though) ... he posted it himself apparently ... someone might like to 'phone him? about Ellan Vannin, though there's one or two threads with some information.

:-)
Ian

Subject: RE: BS: Yet Another Alphabet Quiz
From: SharonA
Date: 12 Jul 02 - 09:29 AM

For further discussion about the Ellan Vannin, please go to this thread that Wolfgang kindly started: (The loss of the) Ellan Vannin


IanC, thanks for creating this enjoyable quiz!

Subject: RE: BS: Yet Another Alphabet Quiz
From: DMcG
Date: 12 Jul 02 - 09:34 AM

Yes thanks again. Given how long we took this time, are the quizzes getting tougher, or are we just more dozy these days? :-)

Subject: RE: BS: Yet Another Alphabet Quiz
From: IanC
Date: 12 Jul 02 - 09:59 AM

Yes, you took almost 24 hours this time; but mostly that was on one item and we did get involved in discussing Ellan Vannin, which took up some energy.

Probably neither dozy nor more difficult, then.

Thanks all for your efforts. I usually dicover quite a few little titbits while I'm researching for these quizzes anyway, so it would be worthwhile for me even if I didn't start the quiz threads!

;-)
Ian